The purpose of this study is to identify health promotion behavior, self-efficacy and role stress of family caregivers who care for hospitalized cancer patient, The results would be used to provide the necessary basic data for promoting healthy behavior of the family caregivers to the cancer patient. The results were as follow : 1) The level of health promotion behavior was significantly different depending on the existence of care givers religion and type of help from family members. There was a positive relationship between the performance level of health promotion behavior and perceived health status or age. There was a negative correlation between the performance level of health promotion behavior and time cared for. 2) The level of self-efficacy was significantly different depending on gender and if the subject was employed. There was a positive relationship between perceived health status and intimacy with patient. 3) The level of role stress was significantly different in genders and relationships with patients. 4) There was a positive relationship between health promotion behavior and self-efficacy.
Caregivers* ; Health Promotion* ; Health Status ; Humans

The purpose of this study is to identify health promotion behavior, self-efficacy and role stress of family caregivers who care for hospitalized cancer patient, The results would be used to provide the necessary basic data for promoting healthy behavior of the family caregivers to the cancer patient. The results were as follow : 1) The level of health promotion behavior was significantly different depending on the existence of care givers religion and type of help from family members. There was a positive relationship between the performance level of health promotion behavior and perceived health status or age. There was a negative correlation between the performance level of health promotion behavior and time cared for. 2) The level of self-efficacy was significantly different depending on gender and if the subject was employed. There was a positive relationship between perceived health status and intimacy with patient. 3) The level of role stress was significantly different in genders and relationships with patients. 4) There was a positive relationship between health promotion behavior and self-efficacy.
Caregivers* ; Health Promotion* ; Health Status ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to identify the forkhead transcription factor gene (FOXL2) mutations in Korean patients with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES). METHODS: We have analyzed the mutations of FOXL2 gene in genomic DNAs extracted from 16 BPES patients and their families by PCR, PCR-SSCP, and sequencing. RESULTS: No deletion in exon 1 to 3 of the FOXL2 gene was observed by PCR. The PCR products were subjected to SSCP analysis and 9 patients showed SSCP shifts. The PCR products showing SSCP shifts were subcloned into plasmid vectors and sequenced to confirm the FOXL2 mutation. In total, 7 mutations (1 nonsense mutation, 1 deletion, and 5 duplications) in exon 2 were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The FOXL2 gene mutations were identified in the Korean BPES patients. Some of the mutations were previously reported and some were new mutations. This study will contribute to the molecular analysis and clinical counseling of BPES patients.
Codon, Nonsense ; Counseling ; DNA ; Exons ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Transcription Factors

The purpose of this study was to obtain basic data of nutrition education for obese children and to examine food habits, food behaviors, and nutrition knowledge. A convenience sample of 84(male:62, female:22) obese children was selected from "98 Children Nutrition Camp". The survey design employed a structured questionnaire. The results of this study were summarized as follows. 1. The percentage of the subjects who overestimated their body weight was higher in female compared to male. Only 35.9% of highly-obese subjects considered them as 'very fat'. The experience of weight control was higher in female than in male, and it was also higher moderately- or highly-obese subjects compared to mildly obese. 2. 64.3% of subjects reported that they regularly eat breakfast. The percentage of the subjects who indicated that they eat at regular meal time or they eat very irregularly was highest in the highly-obese subjects. 3. 34.5% of subjects reported that they eat very fast. The eating speed was slower in female compared to male, and in obese subjects. 55.4% of subjects reported that didn't eating out. 4. 80.9% of subjects had snacks, and most of them had snack between lunch and dinner. The reason the subjects eat snack was hunger. The most favorite snack was cookies. 5. The most preferred and distasteful food was meats(32.1%) and vegetables(67.1%), respectively. 6. The score of food behaviors was relatively low in most subjects. 7. The level of nutrition knowledge was in order of fair(83.1%), poor(9.6%), excellent(7.3%), and was higher in male compared to female. Consequently the results of this study showed to disagreement among food habits, food behaviors and nutrition knowledge, and feel keenly the necessity of education connecting of these. This education had to be practical education to change food behaviors.
Body Weight ; Breakfast ; Child* ; Eating ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Humans ; Hunger ; Lunch ; Male ; Meals ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Snacks

PURPOSE: There were experimental evidences supporting that intrarenal activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes to increase BP, proteinuria and urinary angiotensinogen (UAGT) excretion. The purpose of this prospective, open label, controlled study was to investigate the effect of losartan on proteinuria and UAGT excretion in chronic non-diabetic proteinuric (0.4 to 2.0 g/day) renal disease with normal renal function (glomerular filtration rate, GFR>60 mL/min/1.73m2). METHODS: Thirty two patients were randomly allocated to the losartan group (100 mg/day; n=17) or the control group (n=15). Systolic BP, diastolic BP, estimated GFR, urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UP/Cr), UAGT and plasma angiotensinogen (PAGT) level were compared between two groups at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS: UP/Cr (1.13+/-0.36 g/g vs. 1.07+/-0.34 g/g) was similar in two groups at baseline. Target BP (<140/90 mmHg) was maintained in both groups. After 6 months, UP/Cr (0.63+/-0.35 g/g vs. 0.97+/-0.41 g/g, p<0.01) was significantly decreased in the losartan group compared to the control group. In addition, UAGT (baseline 1.0) was noticeably suppressed in the losartan group (0.72+/-0.42 vs. 1.07+/-0.81, p=0.13). However, PAGT was not changed in both groups. Moreover, our study at 12 months period has demonstrated continuous suppression of UP/Cr (0.79+/-0.53 g/g vs. 1.00+/-0.50 g/g, p=0.06) and UAGT (0.60+/-0.51 vs. 1.51+/-1.36, p<0.05) in the losartan group. UP/Cr was highly correlated with UAGT (Correlation Coefficient=0.74, p<0.01), but not with PAGT. CONCLUSION: Losartan not only induced a remarkable decrease in proteinuria but also contributed a reduction in UAGT in patients with chronic non-diabetic proteinuric renal disease.
Angiotensinogen ; Creatinine ; Filtration ; Humans ; Losartan ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; Renin-Angiotensin System

BACKGROUND: Increased body fat, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance are important clinical features in hypogonadal men. Several studies have demonstrated that a low testosterone concentration in men is associated with coronary heart disease, visceral obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on the abdominal visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors in hypogonadal men were investigated. METHODS: We selected 26 men with secondary hypogonadism (mean serum testosterone+/-SD 0.39+/- 0.57ng/mL), who were then treated with testosterone for 12 months. We measured the body composition, including the abdominal visceral fat area by abdominal CT at the L4 level, both before and 12 months after treatment, and the lipid profile, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA-IR and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 before and 6, 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: With respect to the body composition, the lean body mass had significantly increased 12 months after treatment(P= 0.002), but there were no significant changes in the body fat mass and abdominal visceral fat area. There was a trend toward a decreased fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR, but this did not reach statistical significance. The total cholesterol had decreased significantly at 12 months(P=0.04) and the HDL cholesterol decreased significantly over the course of study(P=0.02). There were no significant changes in the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After 12 months testosterone replacement therapy in the 26 men with hypogonadism, the lean body mass had increased significantly, but there was no significant change on the abdominal visceral fat during the treatment period. Testosterone replacement had deleterious effect on HDL cholesterol, but not significant effects on insulin resistance and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6. These results suggest that testosterone replacement therapy may have a few adverse effects on cardiovascular diseases in hypogonadal men. However, it will be necessary to examine the long-term effects of testosterone replacement on the incidence of cardiovascular events as well as the cardiovascular risk factors in men with hypogonadism
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Disease ; Fasting ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Plasma ; Risk Factors* ; Testosterone* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Increased body fat, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance are important clinical features in hypogonadal men. Several studies have demonstrated that a low testosterone concentration in men is associated with coronary heart disease, visceral obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on the abdominal visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors in hypogonadal men were investigated. METHODS: We selected 26 men with secondary hypogonadism (mean serum testosterone+/-SD 0.39+/- 0.57ng/mL), who were then treated with testosterone for 12 months. We measured the body composition, including the abdominal visceral fat area by abdominal CT at the L4 level, both before and 12 months after treatment, and the lipid profile, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA-IR and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 before and 6, 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: With respect to the body composition, the lean body mass had significantly increased 12 months after treatment(P= 0.002), but there were no significant changes in the body fat mass and abdominal visceral fat area. There was a trend toward a decreased fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR, but this did not reach statistical significance. The total cholesterol had decreased significantly at 12 months(P=0.04) and the HDL cholesterol decreased significantly over the course of study(P=0.02). There were no significant changes in the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6 after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After 12 months testosterone replacement therapy in the 26 men with hypogonadism, the lean body mass had increased significantly, but there was no significant change on the abdominal visceral fat during the treatment period. Testosterone replacement had deleterious effect on HDL cholesterol, but not significant effects on insulin resistance and the serum homocysteine, CRP and IL-6. These results suggest that testosterone replacement therapy may have a few adverse effects on cardiovascular diseases in hypogonadal men. However, it will be necessary to examine the long-term effects of testosterone replacement on the incidence of cardiovascular events as well as the cardiovascular risk factors in men with hypogonadism
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Disease ; Fasting ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Plasma ; Risk Factors* ; Testosterone* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Large amounts of antigen may produce false low values on immunoradiometric assays due to the so-called high-dose hook effect. The physicians' awareness of the possibility of the "high-dose hook effect" will prevent preoperative misdiagnosis. The study was designed to identify the frequency and clinical features of patients with pituitary macroadenomas in whom a high-dose PRL hook effect was documented. METHODS: Our retrospective study involved 42 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (tumor diameter >30mm) who underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery from between Jan 1999 to Aug 2004, and 6 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma(tumor diameter>30mm) were selected for prospective study from Sep 2003 to Feb 2004. Our retrospective study also involved 13 patients with macroprolactinoma for the comparison of the clinical features. RESULTS: 1) The presence of a high-dose hook effect was retrospectively suggested when the PRL levels increased in 4 out of the 42 patients with non- functioning adenomas(tumor diameter >30mm) after surgery. Post-operative immunohistochemical staining of their pituitary specimens revealed the tumors to be prolactinoma. 2) Prospectively, dilution testing of the specimens obtained before surgery was done in the 6 patients, and one patient presented with a case of the hook effect. The patient's prolactin level was measured at 53.1ng/mL before dilution and this was increased up to 22,600ng/mL upon the 1:1000 dilution. 3) Conclusively, the hook effect was seen in 5 of the 48 patients(10.4%) with non-functioning pituitary adenoma(tumor diameter >30mm) 4) Compared with other 2 patient groups(the macroprolactinoma(N=13) group, and the non-functioning pituitary tumor(N=43) group), the high-dose PRL hook effect is more likely to be observed in male patients with large pituitary tumors. CONCLUSION: In order to avoid the high-dose hook effect, PRL should be assayed at 1:100~1:200 or even higher dilutions of serum from all patients(and especially the male patients) with large pituitary tumors
Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Prolactin ; Prolactinoma* ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The significance of metabolic syndrome (MS) was recently raised as a risk factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diabetes and hypertension are not only well known diagnostic criteria for MS, but also risk factors for CKD. However, the association between MS and CKD in patients without diabetes and hypertension is unknown. METHODS: A total of 9586 subjects who registered in the health check service at Samsung Medical Center between January 2004 and December 2005 were included. MS was defined according to the criteria of the revised ATP III, and CKD was defined by the reduction of the glomerular filtration rate or the appearance of albuminuria. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was 9.0% of study subjects. CKD was noticed in 6.2% of the subjects without MS, and 13.1% with MS. MS was a significant determinant of CKD {Odd ratio (OR) 1.80 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42-2.28, p<0.001}. Compared with subjects lacking components of MS, subjects with one, two, three, four or five components of MS had a higher risk of acquiring CKD (OR, 1.04, 1.43, 1.89, 2.48, 3.29, Respectably). The relationship between each component of MS and CKD was different according to sex and age groups. Abdominal obesity was a significant determinant for CKD in female subjects, while high fasting glucose levels were a significant determinant in younger subjects (<60 years) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Even in non-diabetic and non-hypertensive adults, MS is independently associated as a risk factor for CKD.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Adult* ; Albuminuria ; Fasting ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP7)-stable cells and recombinant human BMP7 adenoviruses (AdBMP7) for osteoinduction and osteoregeneration in musculoskeletal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human BMP7 cDNA was amplified from a human osteosarcoma cell line, U2OS using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector. The BMP7-stable HEK293 cells (HEK293/BMP7) were prepared by transfecting the recombinant BMP7 plasmid vector. The recombinant human BMP7 adenovirus (AdBMP7) was constructed using the AdEasy vector system. The BMP7 expression levels in HEK293/BMP7 and AdBMP7 were measured by activity staining for alkaline phosphatase in mouse C2C12 promyoblast cells. The BMP7-stable HEK293 cells, AdBMP7 itself, or AdBMP7-transduced human fibroblasts were injected into the subcutaneous tissues and the calf muscles of immunocompromised mice. The amount of ectopic bone formation was evaluated by radiographic and histological analyses. RESULTS: Ectopic bone formation was observed after injecting the BMP7-stable HEK293 cells with either the AdBMP7 itself or AdBMP7-transduced human fibroblasts into the subcutaneous tissues and calf muscles of immunocompromised mice. CONCLUSION: These results showed that HEK293/BMP7 cells and AdBMP7 have a significant potential for bone formation and the regeneration of various bone diseases.
Adenoviridae ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Diseases ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA, Complementary ; Fibroblasts ; Genetic Therapy ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Muscles ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma ; Plasmids ; Regeneration ; Subcutaneous Tissue